What Original Medicare Covers

Medicare Part B covers emergency ground ambulance transportation when you need to be transported to a hospital or skilled nursing facility for medically-necessary services, and transportation in any other vehicle could endanger your health.
Medicare will pay for emergency ambulance transportation in an airplane or helicopter to a hospital if you require immediate and rapid ambulance transportation that ground transportation can’t provide. Medicare will only cover ambulance services (ground or air) to the nearest appropriate medical facility that’s able to give you the care you need.

In some cases, Medicare may pay for limited non-emergency ambulance transportation if you have orders from your doctor saying that ambulance transportation is necessary because of your medical condition.

In 2010, YOU pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount. All ambulance suppliers must accept assignment.